I think Disney beat you to the punch on that one though.
*psssttt, everyone in here, meet me in the corner*
Are we all here? Good. Look, i have two kids (7 and 9) and they have friends. My parents and my wife's parents come from big families and there are a LOT of kids on either side of the family. Anyhoo, all the kids are different. I'm actually convinced that a lot of parenting and our views on parenting (strict, not strict, leash, no leash, etc.) are somewhat determined by the kids. My wife and I won the lottery with respect to temperament. Both of our kids are calm. But, we have friends and relatives who have kids where a leash when they were younger probably would've helped and been fine. I'm not going to tell them that they should be stricter, etc. because I think they do a pretty good job. They just have very active kids. One of my son's friends is a very well meaning kid, but also very hyper and I've disciplined him (with the blessing of his parents) and in his case I would guess that full body duct tape would be the best bet if you wanted to have him with you in theme parks and not lose him. The big picture - other people aren't going to take your advice anyway, and you won't take theirs. Why? Well, you're different and have different kids.
I just spent 8 days at my parks with my daughter. Most of the time it was just her and I. Yes, she is 7 and a little older. I think leashes are for dogs, not children. If you are not going to watch your child 100% of the time, then put them in a stroller so you know where they are.
I'm going to call BS. I'm about as strict as they come, just short of caning. We had to use a monkey backpack tail thing when he was younger because he just would not do the hand holding thing and I didn't want to have to use corporal punishment in public.
And they might not even be necessarily badly behaved children, just over excitable. Up to a certain age I can justify it but any older than five, not so much.Better a leash than losing a kid! I see nothing wrong with them. When you are at Disney there is so much around that grabs your attention and it only takes a second to lose a kid!
This is ridiculous. I can be standing there STARING at my daughter and she can see something as dumb as a squirrel and she is off faster than you can say stop. So because I don't want her running into the street, into a parade, into people I shouldn't have had her?I can't stand seeing people with these. If you can't watch over your children without using some kind of restraining device, then you shouldn't have had children in the first place.
This is ridiculous. I can be standing there STARING at my daughter and she can see something as dumb as a squirrel and she is off faster than you can say stop. So because I don't want her running into the street, into a parade, into people I shouldn't have had her?
I guess you are super dad. Wish I could be you. You should clearly be writing child rearing books because I guess you know it all.
Get mad all you want. I don't recall any leashes around kids when I was young and parents seem to have done a fine job back then. This generation has become a lazy one. Then, when something happens to the child that the parent should be watching, lawsuits are filed and companies have to post "common sense" signs on everything and make the whole fricking world childproof. I realize that I was a bit harsh with the words that I chose for that post, but this current generation is ridiculous. There's no accountability for anything and in my opinion, leashes are for lazy parents in MOST cases.
This is ridiculous. I can be standing there STARING at my daughter and she can see something as dumb as a squirrel and she is off faster than you can say stop.
I haven't read this whole thread because it is making me a little upset. Obviously everyone is entitled to there own opinion and should accept that although it doesn't look like that is happening.
Yes, some parents will use the leash or harness because they are "lazy" but not most of them. As some people have said you don't know the reasoning behind the use and even if they are being "lazy" that is there choice as a parent.
As someone who was on a leash as a child (at home/not Disney) I can tell you it is not cruel. In fact it is one of the few things from my childhood I do remember. I did have a dog and I thought it was cool to be just like her. This was over 20 years ago and I can tell you that kids still like to "act" like animals. I have a young cousin who is constantly pretending to be a dog, she would probably love to be on a leash. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you make it seem cruel then that is how your kids will interpret it, but if you make if fun then your kid will see it that way.
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